Hill House names grocery project managers

The Hill House Economic Development Corporation has selected two firms to act as its project management and administrative representatives as construction of the twice-delayed Centre Heldman Plaza project finally gets under way.

CM Solutions of New Kensington will serve as project manager for the plaza and its anchor SHOP ‘n SAVE grocery, while the Sphinx Group will serve as the HHEDC project administrator. Joining construction management firm Stark/CMI Joint Venture Inc., they will coordinate and supervise all construction activities.

“CM Solutions and their President Louis Lannuti are very familiar with this project as they were initially engaged as the construction manager for the site work,” said Hill House Association and HHEDC President and CEO Cheryl Hall-Russell. “Rob Farmer, president of Sphinx Group, has extensive experience in the development of supermarket-anchored shopping centers and will provide financial services and administrative support.”

As reported in the New Pittsburgh Courier last month, these agreements follow the departure of HHEDC Executive Director Jules Matthews and the earlier change in prime contractor from Brinker Group LLC to Starks/CMI, which was arranged by her husband Jason Matthews, who will remain as on-site manager.

The SHOP ‘n SAVE will be a 29,500 square-foot building that meets LEED energy efficiency requirements and would feature bakery, deli, dairy, meat and produce departments, as well as frozen foods and health and beauty aids.

Jeff Ross, who with his family owns four other SHOP ‘n SAVE markets, has invested $1 million in the $9 million project and will operate the store when completed. He said he plans to hire about 100 Hill residents. The construction phase is also expected to include 5,000 hours of work performed by community residents under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development Act 3 guidelines.

In addition to the grocery, the plaza will include several thousand square feet of retail space fronting along Centre Avenue and Heldman Street. Starks/CMI Joint Venture and Verizon Wireless have already signed on as tenants.